Second time
This year
Toronto is mourning
Senseless mass murder
Of its citizens.
Maelstrom of emotions
Fills the city
From anger to sadness
As we learn
Victims’ age and names.
People are asking
What motivates someone
To randomly attack
Total strangers.
Who are out
With family and friends
Enjoying warm summer night
At local restaurants
And coffee shops.
Greatest fear is
We'll isolate ourselves
Into ethnic ghettos
Where strangers are viewed
Possible security risks.
I live
In the east end
Of the Danforth.
Where one can find
An Ethiopian supermarket
Nestled beside
A shop selling hair products
And services
To Afro-Canadians.
Further down the street
One finds shops
Catering to Toronto's
Southeast Asian Muslims
And Italian restaurants/social clubs.
The Danforth is
An avenue of immigrants
Intermixing together
Uniting the current wave
With previous ones.
Learning from each other
Blending cultures
Still retaining
Our identity
Of who we are.
Real life
Mosaic portrait
Of an emerging Toronto
Built on understanding
And not fear.
Therisa © 2018
Author’s note: Just some thoughts about the Greektown shootings and my section of the Danforth.
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